Spring-wheel.



U G. WBIDMAN. SPRING WHEEL.I APPLIUATION IILBDMAY 16, 1912.

' 1,060,147', Patented Apr. 29,1913.

U GRANT WEEDMAN, E' INDIANAPOLIS, XNDIANA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 16, 1912.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Serial No. 697,754.

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, U GRANT VEIDMAN, a citizen of thel United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Wheels, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. v

This invention relates to improvements in spring wheels and has for'its primary object to provide a device of this character' l whereby a wheel having a maximum of resiliency is obtained, with the utilization of a minimum number of elements which may be manufacturedand assembled in a completed wheel at comparatively small cost.

A further and more speciic object of the invention resides in the provision of an annular rim of channel form in cross section, a plurality of leaf springs arranged between the felly of the wheel and th'e rim, the ends of said springs being disposed in the chair nel of the rim, and antifriction members arranged between the ends of the springs and the base of the channel to eliminate friction upon the springs when the same are subjected to load pressure.

`With the above and other objects in View as'will become apparentes ithe description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following de# scription and accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section of a wheel embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the accompanying drawings by like reference' characters.

Referring in detail to the drawing 5 designates the telly of a wheel which may be constructed or wood, meta-l, or a combina tion of wood and metal or other materials.

.The outer' eripheral face of this wheei folly is provide with a. groove or chant-eet indicated at 6 to receive the nietai band i'. The ends or this band are spaced apart and provided with ears 8 having openings through which a bolt 9 is adapted to be disposed. This bolt is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 to receive a wedge shaped key l1. When this key is driven into the slot of the bolt, the ends of the metal band 7 are drawn together and said band tightly'clamped in the groove of the wheel felly.

.The annular rim 12 of the wheel is normally disposed infspaced concentric relation to the wheel felly, and is of channel form 1n cross section, the flanges of Vsaid channelshaped rim extending inwardly. A solid tread 13 of rubber or other resilient material is arranged upon the rim 12 and is securely retained in 1position by means of the annular plates. 14C w ich are arranged upon the side flanges of the rim and are curved or bent at. Y i

one of their edges as vshown at 14 for engagement in grooves provided in opposite sides of the tread 13. rlihese tread securing plates are rigidly fixed upon the annular rim 12 by means of the transverse bolts 15 which are dis osed at lintervals through openings provi ed in the side flanges of said rim and through coinciding openings in the plates 14. These bolts are spaced from the baseer transverse body portion of the channel shaped rim and sleeves 16 are loosely mounted upon these bolts. The bolts 15 areof course provided with threads upon one of their ends to receive the nuts 17 whereby the tread retaining plates 14 are rigidly secured to the rim.

At intervals between the metallic band 7 which is arranged upon the wheel felly and the rim 12, the bowed leafv springs 18 are arranged. These springs are secured intermediate of their ends 'to the band 7 byY means of the bolts 1.9 which are provided with flared heads countersunk in said band. Between the metallic band 7 and the springs 18 and preferably' extending the ent-ire width of the springs the fiber sheets 20 are disposed to eliminate friction upon said springs when the same are placed under pressure. Upon the outer ends of the 4spring securing bolts 19 suitable nuts 21 are threaded. The ends of the springs 18 extend between the side tlanges of the rim 12 and beneath the loosely mounted sleeves' 16 which are arranged upon the bolts 15. These sleeves permit ofthe freelongitudinal movement of the ends of the springs when thesame are subi'ected to load pressure, and in order to eliminate friction between the springs andthe base of/the chanarranged upon one edge of these flexible strips vand are secured byniea-ns of theao 1 wheel rim'. "They also afford protection for A nel shaped rim, provide theoiiter faces of thereby entirely eliminating friction upon the springs and greatly prolonging their usefulness. l- As .additional securing means for the inetal band 7 set screws 2liare threaded in '.said band adjacent to its longitudinal edges and are adapted to engage inthi'eaded sockets or recesses provided in the base of the channel or groove, in the wheel felly.

Annular strips of rubber, canvas or other material indicated at extend between the edges yof the metal band 7 and the side flanges of the wheel rim' 12. Rings 26 are screws 27 to the edges of the band 7. Similar annular plates 28 are also arranged upon said flexible stripsand-arc secured by means of thescrews 29 to the 'side flanges ofthe channel shaped' rim 12.. These flexible 'strips of material permit of the inward movement ofthe wheel rim toward thefelly 'but limit the'outwardv movement of said the leaf springs., and prevent mud oi other rforeign material entering between the side :flanges of the rim and interfering with the *.35 'proper action. of said springs.

.. From the foregoing it is thought that. the construction and manner ofoperation of my improved spring Wheel will be clearly understood.

-A wheel constructed in accordance .with

.the/ present invention may be adapted'for use upon automobiles, motor trucks and similar vehicles.` Owing to the few parts employed lin the construction of the device, it'willbe' obvious that the same is extremely strong, and durable in construction, and

. maybe produced Aat comparatively small is claimed 1s cost.

lrVhi'le I have shown and described the preterred construction and arrangement ot :the various elements, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification without departing from the'essential features or sacrificing any -ot the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention what 1. The combination with a wheelhaving a telly provided with a groove in its peripheral face, of a band .seated in said groove, means for clamping the band upon Vthe elly, a plurality of set screws threaded in said band for engagement with the Wheel felly, a riin of channel form iny cross section normally disposed in spaced concentric relation to the elly, flexible strips extending between the side-flanges of the rim and theedges of said metal band, annular securing plates arranged upon said llexible strips and securing means to rigidly secure the-same to the rim and band respectively, a plurality of springs fixed at their intermediate por tionsto said metalband, the ends of said springs being 'disposed' between the vflanges of said rim and bearing against the same,

and :fiber sheets interposed betweensaid' springs and the metal band.

2. The combination with a wheel having i a felly providedwith a roove in its p'eripheral face, of a band seated in said groove, means for clamping the band uponthe felly, arim of channel 'form in cross section normally 'disposed' in spaced' concentric relation to the felly, transverse bolts connecting the side lianges of the rim,

sleeves loosely mounted. on said bolts, a plu-i ralit-y oLt springs secured intermediate their ends to said band, anti-'friction means arranged between the felly and the springs, the ends ofthe springs' extending beneath the sleeves, and anti-friction members arranged between tlie ends vof the springs, and the body ofthe rim. i 3. The combination with a Wheelha'ving ya folly provided with a groove in itspe.

ripheral face, of a bandseated in said groove, means for clamping thelo'and upon the felly, a' rim ofi channel formin dross section disposed in spaced concentric rela'- tion tothe fell-y, transverse bolts connecting the side flanges of the rim, sleeves loosely mounted on said bolts, a plurality of springs secured intermediate their ends to' said band,

anti-friction plates arranged between thev folly and the springs, the ends of the springs extending beneath the said sleeves, a plu.- rality of anti-friction members arranged between the ends of the springs and the body of the rim in spaced relation to one another.

In testimony whereof l hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of twoA witnesses. l

U GRANT WEDMAN.

' Copies otthispatentmay be obtained for ve cents each, b5'- addressing the Com1nssioner of' at'enta, I Washington, D. C. v 

